A County Durham woman who was repeatedly told her breast cancer had not returned was eventually diagnosed with terminal stage four cancer that had spread to her lungs. Sue Spencer, 59, from Burnhope, is among hundreds of women affected by the breast cancer care scandal at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust.
Years of being dismissed
After breast cancer surgery in 2011, Spencer returned to hospital in 2016 when she found a lump. A fine needle aspiration produced an "indeterminate result," but she was discharged and told by consultant Mr Amir Bhatti there was no concern. Two years later, she experienced pain, fatigue, and breathlessness. A mammogram came back clear.
Further tests in 2020 and 2022, while Spencer continued to experience pain, resulted in her being told to "accept" that the cancer hadn't returned. In February 2024, during investigation of diverticulitis, scans found seven tumours on her lungs, and she was told she had stage four breast cancer.
Impact on life
Spencer said she was "made to feel guilty" for raising concerns and was told by a team member that Bhatti "knew what he was doing" and that she was "taking up precious time that other women needed." She said: "To be told I had terminal cancer, which had spread from my breast, having been reassured so many times that all was ok, been told to stop panicking, and made to feel paranoid, was devastating."
The mother of two had to quit work due to ill health and now experiences pain that affects her sleep. She has instructed lawyers to investigate her case, saying: "Women shouldn’t be left feeling dismissed and ignored when they have concerns. They have lived in their bodies and know when something feels wrong."
Trust's response and look-back
Last month, the trust announced a "look-back" at historic breast cancer care failings will cover around 4,500 cases dating back to 2015. One patient has died, and 20 women have been identified as having undergone unnecessary mastectomies. Trust chief executive Steve Russell said: "We remain deeply sorry for the harm and distress caused, and for the times when, as a Trust, we should have listened more carefully, asked more questions and acted sooner."
Lawyer Rachel O'Connor from Hudgells, representing Spencer, said: "We believe Sue’s treatment needs a full and detailed independent legal assessment, as does any woman’s care between 2015 and 2025 if they have any concerns, given what we know now about the systemic failings at the Trust." She urged anyone with concerns to come forward, noting that the firm continues to hold free legal clinics for patients.
